Maryland State Championship Prediction for Class 4 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Maryland does not have a lot to do with Virginia there are a couple conferences that include both Maryland and Virginia teams. High school tournaments may also include teams from both states. Maryland only runs state championships for the public schools. Private schools do not have a separate state championship like Virginia, nor do they combine the two like Washington D.C.. Below is my prediction for Maryland State champion in Class 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["321679"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d5b6938ef15"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Urbana </strong>(Defending champions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Departures - <strong>Logan Burge</strong>, <strong>Sofia Rodriguez</strong>, <strong>Claire Thompson</strong>, <strong>Julia Gustafason</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are losing their top hitter (Thompson), top passer and defender (Gustafason), top blocker (Logan Burge) and their number one setter (Rodriguez). While replacements exist, it may take time to assimilate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returnees - [player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie']</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='346736' first='Ava' last='Hinnant'], <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478953' first='Kaelynn' last='Burge']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321677' first='Charis' last='Burge']</strong> ranked as one of their top blockers, hitters and setters. She stands 5'10" with the ability to be a presence at the net. She could share setting duties with her sister <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478953' first='Kaelynn' last='Burge'].</strong> Another sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321679' first='Simone' last='Assasie']</strong> ranked second on the team in blocks. She was also an offensive presence in the lineup. The 6'0" <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346736' first='Ava' last='Hinnant'] </strong>will take over the other middle. A number of players will battle for the pin positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assessment - Too many losses at critical positions will prevent a repeat. At some point six Burge sisters will play volleyball at Urbana. Last year was their first Maryland state championship. As long as a Burge is on the roster the Hawks have a chance to win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["309031"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d5b790146e4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richard Montgomery</strong> (my pick as 2023 champions)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Departures - <strong>Annika Phase</strong>, <strong>Alba Saberbein</strong>, <strong>Cate Christopher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big loss will be setter <strong>Annika Phase</strong>. Last year she shared the setting duties with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong>. They do have options for setters listed on their roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key Returnees - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352786' first='Cassandra' last='Bradley']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong>,<strong> Ellie Mitchell</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> In club <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='235748' first='Ema' last='Djordjevic']</strong> hits left side and remains in the back row for offense. For the Rockets she ranked second on the team in assists, so it appears she also has the ability to set. You still want to find another setter to allow her to hit from the right side. The middles will be handled by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309031' first='Caroline' last='Kaye']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309030' first='Corinne' last='Howard']</strong>. Caroline led the team in blocks while Corinne was the team's second most effective offensive player. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='352786' first='Cassandra' last='Bradley']</strong> returns as the libero. She is also listed as a setter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frosh <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='438049' first='Ana' last='Djordjevic']</strong> will take the role of Saberbein as the defensive specialist. If they choose to have Cassandra as the second setter Ana could move into the libero position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='436114' first='Jocelyn' last='Yuan']</strong> has a left handed swing good for the right side. Sophomore<strong> Ellie Mitchell </strong>gains one more year of experience. Last year she ranked second on the team in kills hitting from the pins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Assessment - If they can find a second setter the offensive pieces exist to make them dangerous. The Rockets will counter the Burge sisters with the Djordjevic sisters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Others to contend</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arundel - Last year the Wildcats lost in five to Urbana in the championship match. They have a lot of returning pieces on their roster to make them dangerous. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='309025' first='Payton' last='Swinton']</strong> and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='319715' first='Deviana' last='Walker']</strong> swing from the pins while <strong>Abby Finch</strong> returns to set, sharing the role with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284195' first='Daisy' last='Pentorn']</strong>. They also have<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='477413' first='Kiara' last='Harmon'] </strong>to block the middle. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434861' first='Bailey' last='Swinton'] </strong>will handle the libero position. Last year they lost to Urbana in five. They had won the championship in 2019 and 2021, with no championship in 2020 because of CO-vid. The Wildcats bring their own set of sisters to the roster with the Swinton duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["225187"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d5b6938efed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scrimmages Begin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was good to get out and see my first high school volleyball match, <strong>Riverside</strong> versus <strong>Patriot</strong>. While it was just a scrimmage the play remained intense. Because it is still early in the season rosters are not out for most teams so it becomes a challenge to identify players. Below are some of the players who impressed (and I hope I got them right).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238850' first='Sydney' last='Bennett']</strong> (Patriot) - At 6'1" the sophomore dominates at the net. Riverside hitters could not avoid her hands when she went up to block. She also puts the ball away consistently when set. Definitely a player who will make a difference on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448705' first='Danika' last='Swanson'] (</strong>Patriot) - With a scrimmage you can do a lot of experimentation. Frosh Danika got her share of setting opportunities for the Patriots. [player_tooltip player_id='181245' first='Anisa' last='Flowers'] will be the main setter and [player_tooltip player_id='235277' first='Lauren' last='Katz'] set for them last year, but it appears Danika will be given her opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181239' first='Lanie' last='Goff'] </strong>(Patriot) - Lanie showed that the libero position will not be a problem for the Pioneers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181240' first='Natalie' last='Carlin'] </strong>(Riverside) - Natalie showed a lot of quickness at the libero position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333651' first='Sydney' last='Ray']</strong> (Riverside) - The Rams lost both their setters in <strong>Ava Ray</strong> and <strong>Sage Duggal</strong>. There will be growing pains but Sydney played an excellent defense at the setter position. She also moved well to the ball and did a good job with her distribution of sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='181309' first='Brianna' last='Holladay'] </strong>(Riverside) - Brianna will be a force in the middle. There were a number of misconnects with the quick sets, but it is still early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='225187' first='Simone' last='Schaefer']</strong> (Riverside) - It appears Simone will hit left side to combine with [player_tooltip player_id='192587' first='Adriana' last='Perodin']. Samanatha Ferguson will fill the other middle role. Simone did a good job hitting outside, including putting away some three meter sets from the back row. At this stage of the season many of the back row sets drift quite a bit behind the three meter line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riverside won the first and third. Patriot snagged the second. I was gone by the time they played the fourth game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->